PlainEnviro

Carter, OK

Moderate Risk (48/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Carter in Oklahoma · Population: 48,255

TRI sites such as Valero Refining Co -Oklahoma Valero Ardmore Refinery; Michelin N.a. Inc. Ardmore Plant; Ej Ardmore Inc; SDWIS systems such as SOUTHERN OKLA WATER CORP; LONE GROVE; HEALDTON; NPL sites such as Imperial Refining Company anchor Carter, OK's EPA extract. Derived burden score 48/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Carter include SOUTHERN OKLA WATER CORP; LONE GROVE; HEALDTON, while Valero Refining Co -Oklahoma Valero Ardmore Refinery leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 48 / peak 143 in 2024.

Burden score 48/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Carter -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Carter, OK: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-30.2%

8 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-30.2%

251.2 thousand lb → 175.4 thousand lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 1 facility filed for the first time and 0 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Carter, OK's total reported releases fell from 251.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 175.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Carter, OK's water releases fell from 100.8 thousand lb in 2022 to 23.9 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Carter, OK's air releases rose from 86.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 90.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Carter, OK's off-site transfers fell from 64.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 61.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
48,255
TRI Facilities
10
Water Systems
8
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
1.1M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 217 (60%) 132 14 143
2023 189 (55%) 138 17 136
2022 254 (74%) 88 0 160
2021 186 (59%) 129 1 118
2020 201 (58%) 143 1 147
2024 Good Air Quality: 60% of days
Unhealthy days: 14
Median AQI: 48

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Oklahoma, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (8)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
SOUTHERN OKLA WATER CORP 11,250 188
LONE GROVE 4,863 2
HEALDTON 2,785 14
WESTERN CARTER CO WATER CORP 2,000 78
WILSON MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY 1,600 5
WEST DAVIS RWD 500 85
GOLDEN OAKS HOME OWNERS ASSN 135 4
RATLIFF CITY 131 20

TRI Facilities (10)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Valero Refining Co -Oklahoma Valero Ardmore Refinery 729.2K lbs
2 Michelin N.a. Inc. Ardmore Plant 316.6K lbs
3 Ej Ardmore Inc 58.4K lbs
4 Beetle Plastics LLC a Midwest Cooling Tower Co 24.7K lbs
5 Medxl 71 lbs
6 Rustin Ardmore Rmc Plant 4 lbs
7 Atlas Roofing Corp 2 lbs
8 Ardmore Batch Plant 0 lbs
9 Ifs Coatings Inc 0 lbs
10 Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc. - Ardmore 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Imperial Refining Company Deleted NPL Site 30.00

Cities in Carter (6)

Ardmore
10 facilities · 3 water
Ratliff City
0 facilities · 2 water
Healdton
0 facilities · 1 water
Hennepin
0 facilities · 1 water
Lone Grove
0 facilities · 1 water
Wilson
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Carter, Oklahoma? ▼
Carter, OK has an environmental risk score of 48/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 10 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 8 water systems on record. 8 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Carter? ▼
Yes, Carter, OK has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Carter? ▼
Carter, OK has 10 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 1.1M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Carter? ▼
In 2024, Carter, OK recorded a median AQI of 48 and a peak AQI of 143. 60% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Carter? ▼
Carter, OK has 8 EPA-regulated water systems. 8 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Carter? ▼
Environmental compliance in Carter, Oklahoma is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Oklahoma state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro